Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Time is going by way too quickly

Today I got two different emails from the company I had interviewed with to work in the UK. Interestingly, both had the same kind of tone: come and work for us and you'll have a wonderful working experience and great housing, and in general a great time.Unfortunately, I really don't think England is going to be the answer to my occupational problems. yes, it would be amazing and fun and I'd love to be in Europe for awhile - just to explore a little bit of the world.The thing is - despite this great opportunity, I need a permanent job. The teaching profession goes through waves of need for employers - sometimes there is a teacher shortage and anybody can get a job anywhere, and sometimes there are so few positions that people like my cousin have to move back in with their parents until they are able to find work. um love my folks, but NO THANKS.Three years ago, there was a crisis in Ontario. Every school board had a mass of teachers retiring and needed to fill these positions immediately, so they have spent 3 years hiring like crazy. This trend is continuing in Toronto, but everywhere else is definitely getting filled up.

So this brings me to a crossroads.

Do I take the amazing adventure and leave the country for a year or two and teach in the UK?

Or do I focus on the future and be smart and take any job I can get in Ontario?

8 Comments:

oh mel .. what can i say? i know you are really finding it hard to make a decision but you really have to do what is best for you. i know it would be hard to go away and teach somewhere where you will not have friends and family but if it going to be a good oppertunity, then do it. i know you really care about your friends especially kim and myself and want to be around for the boys but its your life. they will still get to know you if you leave and come back, it will be ok. its not like we would ever forget about you either. you do what you need to do and job hunt like crazy and see what you can find in ontario and just go from there. you know i will always support you and will be your friend no matter what ... :) :)

You must take everyone else out of your head while you think about what YOU should do with YOUR life! My best friend is gone to Australia for an entire year, which honestly feels like an eternity, but you only have one life and one chance to do all the things you ever wanted so don't hold back. There will always be 'something' to hold you back but at least in this case you know that your family and friends will all support you in whatever it is you choose to do.

You don't have to go if you don't want to obviously, but if you think it would be a good experience and that you would benefit from it, then don't ignore all that because you're scared. (If it were me, I would be terrified cause I'm a suck like that, but sometimes that's the very reason people ought to do the things that scare them... so they can grow)

Anywho, I hope you figure out what you truely want to do for yourself and know that whatever it is, everyone will be happy for you in the end!

Wow. That's a tough one. I have one friend from university that had the same decision to make. Let's just say she now has a very thick accent and a very british boyfriend. I think you should do whatever you want too. Are you concerned with getting life experience or seniority? You could always accept the job in the UK while you look for something here... then if you don't find anything here you have an adventure to look forward to, if you do find a job here then that would probably make your decision easier and/or more difficult. (You know, one of the two...) Neither is a bad choice. But if you go to Europe I'm totally coming to visit.

Bah take the adventure you only live once Melinda. Who knows after England you may want to try Japan next for teaching. You shouldn't worry about looking for work in Canada. Besides if things fail overseas London always has Stream.

That's interesting... our faculty at the university held a career day, where the Toronto boards - greater toronto, Peel, and Halton - all told us that they were hiring "hundreds of teachers" and they were building "dozens" of new schools. Sounded like propoganda at the time, but since I'm not from the area - I didn't know for sure.

Either way - toronto is nice, but not anywhere near my first choice of a place to live. Beggars can't be choosers though, so who knows where i'll end up...

About Me

When I was in high school, I imagined that at 29 I'd be married with a couple of kids, working in my career job, and living in a house. I'm engaged, have just climbed onto the bottom rung of the long ladder in my teaching career, have two cats and live in an apartment. Sometimes things take a little longer than we expect...